October - November 2018 (Issue 120)

2018 has been a milestone year for Marriott International in the UAE, with the company anticipating having added a total of 11 properties and over 2,600 rooms by year-end.

The design-led Aloft Hotels made its debut in Dubai with three new openings – Aloft Palm Jumeirah, Aloft Me’aisam and Aloft City Centre Deira – all within the first half the year. The company launched its eco-conscious Element Hotels brand in the region with the opening of Element Me’aisam. In the luxury space, the Ritz-Carlton brand opened its fifth property in the UAE – The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach in Ras Al Khaimah. The company also took over the operations of the Yas Island Hotel, which is scheduled to be flagged as a W Hotel early next year – marking the debut of the brand in Abu Dhabi.

Aloft City Centre Deira, Dubai

Building off the momentum of the first nine months, the company is gearing up to open five more properties by the end of the year. These include the Courtyard by Marriott Al Barsha; Four Points by Sheraton Sharjah – the company’s second property in Sharjah; Aloft Dubai South – the first hotel to open in the Dubai South district; The Abu Dhabi EDITION – the EDITION brand’s first property in the region; and W Dubai – The Palm.

Select-Service Brands Fuel GrowthThe UAE is currently home to 16 of Marriott International’s brands – with over 50% of its existing portfolio across its upper-upscale brands, including Marriott Hotels, Sheraton and Le Meridien. The company is also a leader in the luxury space with 15 properties across five luxury brands in the country.

While the company’s development pipeline highlights solid growth for its upper-upscale and luxury portfolio, its select-service brands represent over 70% of the development pipeline for the UAE. The growth of its select-service portfolio, which features brands such as Courtyard by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, Element Hotels and Residence Inn by Marriott, is in line with the UAE government’s efforts to expand the mid-scale segment in the country.

Increased Demand for High-End, Branded ResidencesMarriott International recently announced that its global branded residential portfolio is expected to grow by more than 70% in four years as consumers increasingly seek residences in communities that offer a convenient lifestyle, array of amenities and services while real estate developers seek to differentiate and elevate their products with trusted brands.

The company is seeing an increased demand for branded residences in the UAE and across the region. Across the Middle East and Africa, Marriott currently operates three branded residential properties, including the Bulgari Residences in Dubai, and anticipates to more than double its residential portfolio in the region with eight projects scheduled to open by 2022.